Improvement in cotton-presses



reaction of great pressure.

NITED STATES THOMAS J. BOTTOMS AND JAMES A. BULLOOK, OF THOMAS COUNTY,GA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COTTON-PRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2 l,3 17,' dated August3l, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS J. BoTToMs and Jninns` A. BULLoeK, of Thomascounty, in the State of Georgia, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Cotton and Hay Presses, which we desire to secure byLetters pressure has been given to the material and it is ready to bedischarged. Fig. 4 is a topV Fig. 5 is a View of the follower and lever.vertical section through the follower and lever. Fig. 6 is a horizontalsection showing the connection of the lever with the follower throughits stad'. 4

To ,enable others to make and use our invention, we will describe itsconstruction and operation.

In Fig. 1, A A A` A is a strongly-built frame, which, if desirable, maybe .a portion of or embodied in the construction of a gin-` house, barn,or any other building, that portion of it marked A A being adapted tosustain such a force as is likely to result from the a a are supportsfor the fulcrum SV and the stop-bar S of the lever D. These last arealso shown in Fig. 4. The lever D is attached to the staff C of thefollower C by means of thepin c, which passes through the end of theIstaff C, and through the bridle-plate Z. This is also shown in sectionin Fig. 5. The box B, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is of aA form and dimensions toreceive the material to be pressed, and the follower G, which enters atthe end F and plays within it, f1tting closely. To prevent the followerC from dragging while performing its oflice, a friction roller orrollers, X, Figs. 1 and 5, are secured to the staff. O in such a manneras to lift and support the follower clear of the bottom of the box, thusallowing it to run easilyin and out. The box B is furnished at the endopposite F with a door on each of its two sides, and on the top, sides,and top, having reference to its position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.These doors, marked E E, are connected by hinges d d to the sides andtop ofthe box, and when closed form eontinuations thereof, and restagainst the edges of the end plate, I, Fig. 3, and are secured theretoby the hooks l l. The end plate, I, of the box is unehangeably securedto the bottom of the box. The box B is so arranged that its position maybe changed from a horizontal to a vertical position for the purpose ofcharging it. To this end the box is furnished on each of its sides withjournals m, Figs. 1, 2, 3, which have their bearings in the standards G.An additional security against the effects of pressure is given to thedoors E E and back plate, I, by means of the brace-bars H H, as shown inFig. 1. I Through the sides and top of the box B, and also through thedoors, are perforations a n, which are for the purpose of allowing` theair to escape, which might otherwise be confined in the box and greatlyretard the operation of the press.

The operation of this press is as follows: Supposin g a bale to havejust been discharged from the box B through the doors E E, which shouldbe wide enough to permit its passage. The doors are then closed andsecured by the hooks Z l and the brace-bars H H.v The lever D, thenswinging upon'and against its fulcrum S, is moved from a position atright angles with the staff of the followerr (in which position it hasbeen kept by the stop-bar S', Figs.1, 4) in such a manner that thefollower is drawn entirely out of the box at the end F, thefriction-rollers X allowing it to run easily. The box B is now caused tomake a quarter-revolution upon its journals m, so that it assumes theposition shown in Fig. 2, the end F being at the top and the doors E atthe bottom of the box. In this position it is charged with a sufficientquantity of material, after which it is brought back to the formersituation, ahorizqntal one, and the lever D is brought to bear upon thefollower through its staff, forcing said follower into the box until thestaff G and the lever D are at right angles with each other and themaximum pressure has been given. The brace-bars H are nowremoved, thehooks Z Z cast'loose, the doors E E thrown open, the bale discharged,and the operation completed.

We find by our arrangement that we gain great speed in paekin g overother presses by hand-power.

Having -tlius described our invention, we ing perforated box B,operating as described, do not claim the parts designated in thexnandfor the purposes set fonth. selves as new, separately considered; butTHOMAS J. BOTTOMS. Vhat We claim, and desire to secure byLet- JAMES A.BULLOCK. ters Patent,.is- Vitnesses:

The combination of the followenstaff' c, T. G. CLAYTON, bridle Z, leverD, follower c', and the revolv- O. L. LAWSON. f 1

